What Hockey Is

The team that scores the most goals wins; if the goals are equal, the match is a draw.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 5.2 · recuerdo

Field players play the ball with the stick; using the body to move it is an offence.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

Hockey 101 sums it up: push or hit only with the flat side or edge of the stick.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

Only goalkeepers may use their body to stop and move the ball, and only in their own circle.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

The shooting area is the circle, often called the 'D' for its shape.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

Under the Rules equal goals mean a draw; a shoot-out to find a winner comes from competition regulations.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 5.2 · aplicación

There is no left-handed stick: every stick has its flat side on the left as it is held.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

Goals can only come from inside the circle, so an attack ends with a shot from there.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

Four quarters, with the half-time interval between the second and the third.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 5.1 · recuerdo

A ball played by an attacker in the circle that crosses the goal-line is a goal.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 8.1 · aplicación

Outdoor hockey is played eleven against eleven, goalkeeper included.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

A team is at most sixteen people: eleven on the field and five substitutes.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Terminology (Team) · recuerdo

Hockey uses rolling substitutions: there is no limit to how often a player changes.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 2.3 · recuerdo

Field players of one team wear uniform clothing so the umpires and players can tell them apart.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 4.1 · recuerdo

The goalkeeper's shirt differs in colour from both teams.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

Captains wear a distinctive armband, on an arm, a shoulder or over a sock.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 3.3 · recuerdo

A suspended player cannot be replaced, so the team plays one short for the suspension.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 14.2 · aplicación

Smallest to largest: the bench, the eleven on the field, then everyone named for the match.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Terminology (Team) · recuerdo

Time is not stopped for a substitution; the players change by the centre-line.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 2.3 · aplicación

Each side shows ten field players and a goalkeeper: eleven, the usual number in outdoor hockey.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

A goalkeeper's minimum kit is headgear, leg guards and kickers.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 4.4 · recuerdo

Kickers fit over the goalkeeper's shoes so the ball can be kicked away safely.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

Inside their circle, stick in hand, goalkeepers may use stick and body; outside it, the stick only.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 10.2 · recuerdo

The Rules call every participant on the field except the goalkeeper a field player.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Terminology (Field Player) · recuerdo

Shin, ankle and mouth protection are strongly recommended for field players.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 4.2 · recuerdo

A goalkeeper's helmet has a full face guard, and a throat protector is worn under it.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

A team either has a goalkeeper on the field or plays only with field players.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 2.2 · aplicación

Helmet, body protection, leg guards and kickers, top to bottom.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

The goalkeeper may block with the pads inside the circle; defenders then clear the rebound.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · aplicación

Helmet, leg guards and kickers mark out the goalkeeper; a face mask is a defender's kit at corners.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

Shots from outside the circle do not count unless an attacker touches the ball inside it.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 8.1 · recuerdo

The circle's flat front and curved sides give it the nickname 'the D'.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

A defender's touch before or after an attacker's play in the circle does not stop a goal.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 8.1 · aplicación

Without an attacker playing the ball inside the circle, no goal can be scored.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 8.1 · aplicación

The ball must pass completely over the goal-line and under the cross-bar.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 8.1 · recuerdo

The circle's front line is 14.63 metres from the back-line.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

Hockey goals have low boards inside; the ball striking them makes the familiar clack.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

About 0, 6.4, 14.6 and 45.7 metres.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

A deflection by an attacker inside the circle is enough for a goal.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 8.1 · aplicación

The shot is taken from outside the circle, so it cannot score without another attacker's touch inside.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 8.1 · aplicación

A match has four quarters.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 5.1 · recuerdo

Each quarter lasts 15 minutes of playing time.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 5.1 · recuerdo

Two minutes separate quarters one and two, and three and four.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 5.1 · recuerdo

Half-time between quarters two and three is 10 minutes.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 5.1 · recuerdo

Umpires make sure the full time is played and signal the end of each quarter.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 11.5 · recuerdo

Time and play are stopped after a goal and re-started when the teams are ready.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 8.2 · recuerdo

Other durations may be agreed, except where competition regulations fix them.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 5.1 · aplicación

2, 10, 15 and 30 minutes.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 5.1 · recuerdo

Teams swap ends for the second half and a centre pass starts the third quarter.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rules 5.1, 6.2 · recuerdo

After the second quarter comes half-time; the 2-minute breaks follow the first and third quarters.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Hockey 2027 (player's view), Rule 5.1 · aplicación

Hockey is one of the most gender-equal sports: the same rules and equipment for men and women.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

Women's hockey joined the Olympics at Moscow 1980.

Fuente: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recuerdo

The International Federation of Women's Hockey Associations, founded in 1927, ran women's hockey.

Fuente: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recuerdo

Men's and women's hockey came together in one federation in 1982.

Fuente: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recuerdo

The first women's World Cup was held at Mandelieu, France, in 1974.

Fuente: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recuerdo

In the US the high-school and NCAA college game is played mainly by girls and women.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

Both men's and women's hockey have been in every Olympic Games since 1980.

Fuente: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recuerdo

1927, 1974, 1980 and 1982.

Fuente: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recuerdo

1908, 1924 and 1971.

Fuente: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recuerdo

Women's internationals use exactly the Rules of Hockey the men use.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · aplicación

Indoor hockey is a small-sided game, played six against six.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

Indoor hockey has side boards and players use them to pass off.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

In indoor hockey the ball is pushed; hitting is not permitted.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

Hockey5s has four field players and a goalkeeper on each side.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

Hockey5s debuted at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

The first FIH Hockey5s World Cup took place in 2024.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

Two Hockey5s pitches fit on one full-size field.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

Five, six and eleven per side.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

1971, 2003 and 2024.

Fuente: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recuerdo

Boundary boards, quarter-lines and five players a side make it Hockey5s.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

International hockey is played on water-based turf, watered to speed up play.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

Watering speeds up the game and stops the ball bouncing.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

Synthetic turf arrived at the Montreal 1976 Olympics and has been the elite surface since.

Fuente: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recuerdo

Hockey5s can be played on almost any flat surface.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

USA Field Hockey's 2025 guide counts 146 FIH member countries.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

Outside the US and a few other countries, field hockey is just called hockey.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is the world governing body.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

Grass came first, synthetic turf reached the Olympics in 1976, and watered turf became the elite standard later.

Fuente: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recuerdo

Umpires check the field; the water-based turf is watered before play.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · aplicación

Water-based turf is watered to speed up the game and keep the ball flat.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · aplicación

Men's hockey debuted at the London 1908 Olympics.

Fuente: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recuerdo

India have been Olympic champions eight times, including six in a row from 1928 to 1956.

Fuente: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recuerdo

Hockey has been in every Summer Games since 1908 except 1912 and 1924.

Fuente: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recuerdo

Los Angeles hosts the 2028 Games and hockey will be played there.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

Zimbabwe won the first women's Olympic hockey tournament at Moscow 1980.

Fuente: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recuerdo

England beat Ireland in the 1908 final in London.

Fuente: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recuerdo

The FIH history counts nine nations as Olympic champions.

Fuente: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recuerdo

1908, 1928, 1976 and 1980.

Fuente: FIH, The history of FIH & hockey · recuerdo

Bronze, silver and gold are presented after the final, then the champions' anthem is played.

Fuente: General field hockey reference · aplicación

The champions take the middle, highest step; silver and bronze stand either side.

Fuente: General field hockey reference · aplicación

Many clubs offer youth play from as young as 8.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

Masters hockey is for players beyond their mid-thirties, with its own competitions.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

Hockey ID is one form of Para Hockey, for players with an intellectual disability.

Fuente: FIH Rules of Para Hockey 2026, Introduction · recuerdo

Fewer players on a smaller pitch means more time on the ball for each child.

Fuente: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · recuerdo

Beginner sticks are usually wood: light, less rigid and forgiving for stopping the ball.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

Many players measure from the ground to the hip bone.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

USA Field Hockey describes it as one of the safer sports, with few serious injuries.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

Sticks grow with the player: about 28, 34 and 37 inches.

Fuente: USA Field Hockey, Field Hockey 101 (2025) · recuerdo

Children usually start in small games before moving to eleven-a-side.

Fuente: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · recuerdo

Young players learn best through many ball contacts in game forms.

Fuente: KNHB/SAHA Field Hockey Activity Guide · aplicación